Body Proportion issue

anne

I've been meaning to bring this up for some months now, but my other thread on body tucking made me recall it.
Janet wrote
"Keep trying! I think the semi tuck can be really helpful for giving some visual balance to a very short or long torso."

As someone with a long torso this is of course of great interest to me.

A few months ago though, I watch a Trinny and Susannah Australian special from 2011 ( so not THAT long ago) where they were adamant that people of my body type should always cover the crotch point with a long top when wearing pants, with the rationale so that no-one can tell where your legs start. I see the sense in that argument too. (it is one reason I prefer skirts and dresses)

What do you think of the T & S argument and could there be a compromise between these 2 points of view?

11 years ago

Body Type

12 replies

Latest reply was from Liz A.

rute

Veteran

Let me see if I understood.. Long torso and short legs, should cover the crotch with a long top? But that will make your torso look bigger and your legs shorter..

11 years ago

AnnieMouse

Veteran

if I had to cover the "crotch point," I'd never be able to wear pants, which I love. I'd also look incredibly disproportionate when I do, as I'm also a long-torsoed person (5'9" with a 30" inseam). I like a semi-tuck, because it helps visually lengthen the leg line to me, and brings in a narrowing to the waist, which also feels a bit slimming.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

As another long-torsoed, short-legged candidate (5'7" with a 30 inch inseam), I can see how Trinny and Susannah's advice can work in some circumstances. The trick is to hit exactly the right length because, as Rute says, going too long can make you look even more disproportionate. That said, I also find the semi-tuck to work quite well with certain pant styles because it can also visually lengthen my legs, especially if I'm wearing a bit of a heel.

I really feel that experimenting with these guidlenes is necessary to figure out what works best for your particular torso. My extra length is between my bust and my waist so some of the advice directed at women who have their extra length between their shoulders and bust, or between their waist and and hip, just doesn't work for me. I also feel that you need to figure out how important it is to always approximate "ideal" proportions; I don't mind showcasing the longer line between my bust and waist in some outfits, just like I'll choose to emphasize my broad IT shoulders in other outfits because I enjoy the look of a stronger shoulder line.

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Anne, I agree with what Gaylene says. You need to experiment with different tops and consider how they work for your particular body. No one rule will answer to all.

You and I share some body similarities. And, for whatever it is worth, I have never, ever been able to stand the sight of myself in a tunic top.

Don't get me wrong. I do like tunics on others -- even some others with short legs! But not on myself. I think they make my legs look even shorter, my torso look even longer, as Rute says. Plus, they draw attention to my relatively muscular thighs. I have nothing against my thighs. But at the same time, I don't really want an arrow pointing to them showing how much bigger they are relative to some of my other body parts!

On the other hand, a top that "covers the crotch point" is not a "tunic top" in my mind. Angie used to recommend one to a few inches above the crotch point as the most modern length....vs. the shorter tops which had been around before that. But even one a few inches longer than that would not be a true tunic.

I have always liked wearing tucked tops (with either skirts or pants) if leg lengthening is my top priority. And right now I am loving the semi tuck and faux semi tuck. This lengthens the leg line in front but creates some structural interest and coverage in back.

T & S's advice might make sense if the top just barely covered the crotch point, if the pants and shoes were exactly the same colour or close enough, if the top was relatively similar in colour value, and if the wearer was also wearing high heels. I honestly don't think they hold in other circumstances.

11 years ago

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I think we have similar body types, Anne. (Short legs, long rise, wide the low hip/thigh, small waist and high hip.) I occasionally wear loose tops this length (they have to be loose enough to hide where your bum is). But I find it to be kind of a tough proportion, because you're cutting yourself in half at the widest point.

Also, this seems really restrictive! I would not be willing to do this even if I thought it was by far the most flattering. Not sure why, since I've committed to shoes with a 2 to 3 inch heel, which some people would find equally restrictive.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I have a short waist, long rise, and short legs. My best tops go to the crotch but no further; I don't consider that length to be a true tunic length. I also have tops that are shorter than that, but not too short. Like cinnamon fern said, there's no need to be super restrictive. I can usually get around the proportion issue in other ways, like wearing longer pants and higher-heeled shoes to make my legs look longer and in more proportion to my torso. I'm also fond of short-over-long; i.e., a crotch length top with a cropped topper (vest, jacket or cardigan) over it. Whenever I do this, I make sure the topper hits above my hip bone, where my natural waist would be if I weren't short waisted. Hope this helps.

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Longer pants hemmed over a bit of heel ( I can't believe I'm saying this) do more for the leg-lengthening than a long top over the pants. You're not trying to hide where your legs start--you're trying to have a longer bottom half which includes your hips. So in addition, if you found a type of pants that fits very well through both high and low hip (for me that means not tightening in like a sausage, but skimming from waist to thigh), then a top that comes to high hip may get your top "half" to be almost as little as 1/3 of the total, and also lengthen the line. But all these guidelines vary a lot with the actual cut and fit and color of what you're wearing.

11 years ago

anne

Veteran

Thanks so much for all the wisdom in this thread. I can't stop long (am at work) but wanted to link to a page I just remembered of Imogen's
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......inish.html

That seems to be relevant.

I have a deep love of long tunic sweaters so I am reluctant to give them up!!

11 years ago

rute

Veteran

very helpful but remember Imogen is talking about tights with pants it's different.
Just post a photo with your beloved sweater and we'll see.
I have items I love, I don't mind if they're not as flattering as others

11 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

I am a long-torso-short-legs. I wear tunics but:

- with a belt, placed on my natural waist which is much higher;

- or with an empire waist.

Thanks Anne for the link! Very informative!

11 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

Another long torso (length in the rise, width in the thighs), short legs person here!

My best look is anything high waisted: pants, skirts, empire waist tops and dresses (possibly tunics though I haven't tried them). I love the relaxed feel of a tunic with leggings. I find they look extremely disproportionate unbelted, because my wide thighs and round bum emphasize how short my legs are (or how long my rise). But sometimes I just don't care!

11 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

Oh and I can't access Imogen's blog from work, but I remember she had a post about dressing your body in thirds. I have an inkling that that issue might be important here...

11 years ago

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